Discussions
Does everyone need college?
Posted by JNMiller • 10/24/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: College, writing
What writers have made a name for themselves without spending over $60,000 and 4 years of school?
User Comments
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I've never really paid any mind to a novelist's "credentials".
Now, if I'm reading non-fiction, I usually want to know their background, but not necessarily their education. It depends on what I'm reading about. -
Not in this day and age, no. But, for the UK anyway, it's a lot harder for University graduates as everyone seems to have one, thus making finding a solid career all the more difficult. The debt is a bit scary too. -
Student loans, grants and scholarships. ..and you don't have to pay back the loans until you've graduated. ..even then you can still defer them...
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I'm going to school for journalism and I'm so tired of it. I don't want to write about the world or anthing like that though I've recently had a political article published in the Daily News. I just want to do Op-Ed, freelance some editorials, and write a few books. lol
Symptoms of a Lazy Ass Student
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you ahve a link for your political article? (I was a Political Science major)
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Yea, I have the link. Many loved it, Alot wanted to kill me. lol
www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20081010_Skin_color_shouldn_t_equal_a_vote.ht... -
Oh Yes, very big difference between graduates and non-graduates. Make some observation and you will see it.
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Shakespeare didn't attend college, nor did Edward Albee and Woody Allen. Add to that Ray Bradbury, Eleanor Clift, James M. Cox and F. Scott Fitzgerald - among others.
Here's a bunch more - but not all writers:
www.collegedropoutshalloffame.com/
I am of the "nothing is impossible" camp. Set up a tent if you dare -
@Anniepooh: Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.
I know that I will gain knowledge in school that I could use for potential stories, but it's just the motivation to stay in school that kills me. -
I think school is necessary for doctors and a few other professions, but as for writing, I'm not so sure.
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Nobody can really teach you how to write, they can teach you techniques to use, but really the words you write are your own. (Unless they're not lol) College is good for some people though, but unless you're really serious about going into a specific job that requires a degree then you do not neccesarily need to go. I hear being a student is fun though.
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Writing is a future career to most, but to me it's my dream. I carry a book everywhere I go. I've been writing short stories since I was 6 years old. Writing is my life and I would love to make a career out of it.
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Learn the business of writing is the best advice I can give you. Too many decent writers have a big fail in this category and can't get their work published because of it.
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If you are a great writer, you may succeed without school. Everyone else should seriously consider schooling, even if only as a back up position.-
I don't know - I landed a decent writing job without ever having gone to school for that. I did graduate college for Culinary Arts, and I write about food, but I didn't go formal for writing.
I read all the time and I believe that all good writers are also good readers. It at least sets a decent foundation whether you choose to matriculate or not.
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Depends where you live in the world, in the USA—No, not everyone, although if a person cannot figure out how to make money, then they would be better off going for a degree. -
I think without any college someone is not as smart about things in the world or a deep thinker.
But at the same time too much college is also no good. Too many liberal teachers can warp your mind these days. That is why I stopped after 2 years. I want to learn but do not want to be brainwashed either.-
I've been told that many publications will take talent over a degree. I just changed my major to journalism a year ago, so I still have my unique writing style, while others have lost theirs trying to fit the AP writing style.
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@JNMiller If you want to write, then you need to learn to write by doing. A journalism degree will help you not a single bit as a writer. Sure take some journalism classes the style can help, but a degree in it is meaningless. If you want to b able to afford to write, get a degree that amounts to something with some sort of future.
You only get to a point where people will buy you work by writing, rewriting until it shines, and submitting it to publishers and agents until it is sold.
The only thing a journalism degree really qualifies you for is to run as a republican Vp candidate.
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I think it depends on the individual. Some people thrive in a structured college atmosphere, where others learn more just doing their own thing.
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Not necessarily. I'm a writer and earned my name
I've not gone to college so far and not spent - still in school! -
Anyone who thinks they are going to become a novelist by going to college they are out of their freaking mind. College classes can help you improve your writing, but they will not turn you into a novelist even with a worthless creative writing degree.
This is coming from a guy with 27 completed novels and 4 of them currently in circulation of different publishers.-
Thank you! That's what I was trying to say. Education and talent are two very different things.
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I guess this is why we have only one Harry Potter type of book series. It is probably rare to have an incredible mind to think of books in that league.
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Yeah, she stole my manuscript and went crazy with it.
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The Harry Potter success was as much luck as anything. The market was right for that story. Five, ten or twenty years before and it would have barely been noticed.
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I always wanted to go to college because I felt I had to. Now, I'm in my fourth year...behind and I suck as a student. I only excel in my writing classes. Only classes I am taking now are design and writing classes to help improve the special projects I do on my spare time.
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In my opinion, you should go to college to get a formal education. As earlier posts have stated, education has little to do with earning a living.
To earn money at writing, or anything else for that matter, you MUST be passionate about it. I guess one way to say it is you would be doing it whether you got paid or not.
Let's use Steven King as an example. I know, he went to college and graduated with an English degree, but it has little to do with his success. He started writing when he was very young. He continued to write and write and like everyone else in the business he got turned down. Interestingly, he started making money writing for "mens" magazines. Of course I think everyone knows by now he hit it big with Carrie.
But the point is, Steven is passionate about writing. He is older now, 61, and I don't know if it is still true but he used to write everyday. Writing was like a drug to him and he had to do it. You learn and improve by doing.
Again, you must be passionate about whatever do, whether you get a formal education or not. -
$60,000? Not everybody's gone to Harvard...-
that is about a quarter of what 4 years at harvard costs these days.
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mattiasx,
The average public school tutition (only) is about $6,500.
Private schools are more expensive, the average is well over $20,000.
Most students must add room and board and other costs like books. So, spending $15,000 per year is not unreasonable.
I just looked at the Harvard Univ site and found this per year info:
Undergraduate cost
2008-09 academic year
Tuition — $32,557
Total including room, board, student service fees — $47,215
Rob-
Yeah those costs don't even begin to touch the price of books for an average term at Harvard. Where 12 to 15 credits might run $200 to $500 a term depending on what you are studying, that is a drop in the bucket compared to some Ivy League book costs. I have heard bother from Harvard and Yale students who say dropping $1500 to $2000 on books per term isn't unheard of for undergrads. Professors their seem to get away with supplementing their salary by writing the text books and making sure it is updated every term.
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Some people have a natural born talent that cannot be learned. The words flow effortlessly and these writers can touch the reader deeply. It is not something that can be taught.
Some people, however, can benefit from school because they weren't born with this talent. University can help to hone skills to be a writer that would not be possible without schooling. -
I agree also with Bradhart, the introduction of a new book has a lot to do with the 'right time' and marketing!
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college won't make a writer outta you, but hey you can hav loads of fun! and that's why i go there in the first place! -
College certainly does have its benefits, especially the younger you are. It is a place to come into your own and socially mature, even if it can be a costly place to do it.
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I taught Mrs. Rowling how to write an economics text book but she failed and got stuck in Harry Potter.. Now what will i do..
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